Fire Ignited from Hot Ashes in Hopatcong

Fire caused from hot ashes placed in the woods. Photo courtesy of the Hopatcong Police Department.

DO NOT PUT HOT ASHES FROM YOUR FIREPLACE/WOOD BURNING STOVE INTO THE WOODS:

DATE: 11/21/14 CASE:14-13555

TIME: 12:29

LOCATION: Rollins Trail

WAS ANYONE INJURED: NO

WHAT FIRE DEPARTMENTS RESPONDED: Hopatcong

WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE: Hot ashes

WHERE DID IT START: in the woods

IS ARSON SUSPECTED: No

ANY OTHER INFORMATION: A homeowner took hot ashes from their fireplace and placed them into the woods. It started a brush fire. While waiting for the Fire Department Officer Mancuso and Officer Kern tried to rake leaves away causing a bare area to stop the spread of the fire. The fire had the help of a stiff wind and when it hit old Christmas trees that were dumped there, the fire grew too big. The Hopatcong Fire Department arrived and put the fire out.

Metal bucket that should be used for ash containment. Photo courtesy of the Hopatcong Police Department.

I asked Hopatcong Fire marshal Richard Cook what to do with hot ashes. He advised to put them into a metal bucket and either hold them for a minimum of 24 hours before dumping them or sprinkle them out and douse them with water. Last year we posted a fire when a person put ashes that they thought were out into a plastic bucket. That is no good. You must use a metal bucket like the picture shows.

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